Receptacle for the drain-water of refrigerators and alarm therefor.



No. 873,503. PATENTED DEC. 10, 1907. A. GASALE. REGEPTAGLE FOR THE DRAIN WATER 0E REPRIGERATORS AND ALARM- THEREFOR. I APPLICATION FILED APB. 17. 1907.

Y N R 0 T A INVENTOR Tu: mmms FE UNITED s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW OASALE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

RECEIPTACLE FOR THE DRAIN-WATER OF REFRIGERATORS AND ALARM THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed April 17. Serial NO- 368062- provement in receptacles for the drain water of refrigerators and alarms therefor, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this description which may be attached to the under side of any ordinary refrigerator, and when so attached will catch the water draining from the refrigerator, and when the accumulations of such water has reached a given point an alarm will be sounded indicating that the water should be drawn off.

With these ends in View, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a section of a portion of a refrigerator showing my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2, a plan view of my improved receptacle and alarm detached from the refrigerator. Fig. 3, a section at the line a:w of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the casing, which is divided into the receptacles A and B, the former serving as a tank for catching the drain water from the refrigerator, and this casing has secured thereto the hinges C by which it is hinged to the under side of the refrigerator in orderthat it may be swung down when occasion requires. for cleaning the tank, and the hasp D which is secured to the front portion of the casing is utilized for holding the casing in its normally elevated position.

Within the compartment A is located a float E of any suitable size or design carried by the outer end of the lever F, which latter is pivoted at G to the partition H, dividing the twocompartments.

Within the compartment B is located a spring strip I, which projects forward beneath the inner end of the lever F, the latter having a set-screw J threaded through the same,-the lower end of said screw being adapted to come in contact with the spring strip I, thus closing an electric circuit, as hereinafter described.

K represents a battery composed of one or more cells, and the wire L connects this battery with the spring strip I, while the wire M connects the opposite battery with the bell N, the opposite binding post of said bell being connected by the wire 0 to the I lever F, from which it will be seen that when the float is moved upward so as to bring the point of the screw J into contact with the strip 1, the circuit will be closed and the bell caused to ring.

The height to which the float will rise to sound the bell may be adjusted by adjusting the screw J, so as to cause it to come in contact with the strip I sooner or later in the movement of the lever.

In order that ready access may be had to the compartment B in which the battery, bell and circuit breaker are located, I pro vide a hinged cover P, which closes this receptacle B, while to the front edge of this cover is hinged the door Q, in order that this door may be swung open, and when desired the cover may also be swung upward after lowering the whole device on the hinges C, thus exposing the interior of the compartment.

R represents a faucet leading from the res ervoir A in order that the water accumulating in this reservoir may be drawn off when the sounding of the bell indicates that the water has risen to a given height.

In practice, when my improvement is applied to a refrigerator or the like, no care is necessary to prevent the drain water from overflowing, since it will all pass into the tank, and when it has reached a dangerous height, the circuit will be closed and the bell will continue to ring until the water has been drawn ofl thus preventing the annoyance of the water overflowing upon the floor.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, is-- I In combination with a refrigerator a casing divided into two compartments by a parattached to the longer arm of said lever, an L shaped metallic spring strip clamped by the shorter arm of the L to the side of the housing and in circuit with an electric battery, a free end of said strip projecting beneath the shorter end of the lever within the housingand adapted to serve as an electric terminal, an adjusting screw threaded through the inner extremity of the shorter arm of the lever and adapted to contact with said strip when the water shall have reached.

any desired point within the tank, a battery within the housing adapted to be actuated by the contact between the screw and the strip a bell adapted to be actuated. by the battery, a cover hinged to the housing a door hinged to the cover, hinges on one side of the casing an oppositely disposed hasp adapted to cooperate with the hinges and fasten the casin to the bottom of the refrigerator as speciiied.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

4. ANDREW CASALE.

Vitnesses JAMES B. KELLY, CARL E. BEERS. 

